Two Lahaina surfers who lost their homes in the Maui wildfires won their division at the 34th annual Visla/High Tech/Lopez Surf Bash held Saturday and Sunday at Hookipa Beach Park.
Julianna Korpas, who lived on Lahainaluna Road with her family, beat 13 other competitors in overhead surf conditions to win the Women’s Open title.
“I’m very sick, I’ve never won the British Open before.” Corpus said. “It gave me a lot of confidence after not surfing for a while.”
“I was like beast mode the whole time because I couldn’t do anything good up until then. I wasn’t even focused on other surfers, I was just focused on myself.”
“I think it’s great,” said Corpus, who had finished a disappointing third place in the 16-17 age category earlier in the day. “My wave selection wasn’t very good.”
Corpus lost everything except some surfboards in the fire.
“I was able to grab a couple of boards because my dad had already packed them up in the morning. I think he was ready.” she said.
“That changed my surfing. From then on, my surfing didn’t go anywhere because we were focused on finding a place to stay and always moving.” was flying around. ”
Things are now stable for the 16-year-old boy.
“At Paia, we have a one-year rental agreement.” Mr. Corpus said before adding: “I like Pyre more than I expected.”
Solten Poulsen beat 18 other surfers to win the boys 14-15 age group.
“I’m very happy. It wasn’t even a minute since I won, so it was great.” Paulsen said. “I was so excited, the waves were fun, and luckily I just came out on top.”
His family lost everything in the Front Street home they had lived in for 10 years.
“Surfing has always been a special part of my life, so if I had something on my mind I could go surfing and solve it.” Paulsen said. “It really helped me get through this difficult time.
“I’m really lucky to have a family and a great community that supports us. Surfing has been most of my life, so I’m really happy to be back.”
The 15-year-old Maui Prep Academy sophomore didn’t have to wait long to get a replacement surfboard. His first board was sent to him by a friend from the other side of the island.
“Cash Verzola gave me two hand-me-downs, Uncle Judd (Rau) gave me two boards, and Uncle Glenn Minami gave me shapes. We have a great community. .” Paulsen said.
Five homeless families from Lahaina competed in the surf bash. These families received custom-made surfboards shaped by two-time Pipeline Champion Jerry Lopez.
Lahaina’s Callie Sprenger won the girls U12 competition.
“The set was a little crazy at first. It was fun there.” she said.
Although Sprenger’s home was not near the burn zone, her schooling was affected. She was attending a fourth-grade Hawaii immersion class at Princess Nahienaena School in Lahaina.
“I’m not really going to school right now.” Sprenger said. “It’s like a school on the beach (at Hanakao Beach Park). My teacher, Kumu Kanaoa, doesn’t want to go back to school, so she just studies on the beach. That’s what makes it fun.”
The loudest cheer at Hokipa came when Kai Martins caught a buzzbeater wave to defeat Kona Yamada in the boys U12 final. The Haleakala Waldorf School fifth-grader from Haiku was carried onto the beach after winning.
“My dad and his friends were here.” Martins said. “It was my first win. I’ve been doing the contest for two years.”
Other champions crowned at Hokipa include Levi Young (open boys), Jack Greer (U10), Ryder Prouty (boys 12-13), Miley Huck (girls 12-13) and Ione Turner. (girls 14-15) and Eric Roberson (boys). (16-17), Stella Valdez (girls 16-17), Travis Alexander (open longboard), and Evan Strong (para).
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Visla / High Tech / Lopez Surf Bash
Saturday and Sunday results
At Hokipa Beach Park
Boys/Girls U10–1. Jack Greer 8.43, 2. Alice Greer 7.43, 3. Jasiah Jack Lucas 6.83, 4. Avery Sterow 6.53, 5. Guide Udell 5.84, 6. Aukan Messer.
Boys U12–1. Kai Martins 11.34, 2. Kona Yamada 11.17, 3. Owen Everett 9.30, 4. Kai McCluskey 5.33.
Girls U12–1. Kari Sprenger 12.90, 2. Madison Cumbia 6.66, 3. Avery Sterow 5.23, 4. Peter Lee Hubin 4.67, 5. Alice Greer 4.50.
Boys 12-13–1. Ryder Prouty 14.10, 2. Matthias Bunt 11.04, 3. Aiden Haas 8.40, 4. Archer Oliver 6.70.
Girls 12-13–1. Meiri Huck 9.27, 2. Stella Pogni 7.96, 3. Ocean Lipstein, 4. Bailey Brown 5.93.
Boys 14-15–1. Zolten Poulsen 12.10, 2. Kingston Panebianco 11.23, 3. Steve Roberson 10.83, 4. Ian Pegoraro 7.53.
Girls 14-15–1. Ione Turner 9.67, 2. Shia Boberman 9.00, 3. Sloan Jacker 7.77, 4. Kaya McCord 6.54.
Boys 16-17–1. Eric Roberson 13.03, 2. Raffi Neri 12.63, 3. Laurent Mullen 11.17, 4. Chase Barnes 7.90.
Girls 16-17–1. Stella Valdez 13.43, 2. Krislyn Simpson Cain 8.63, 3. Julianna Corpuz 5.83, 4. Kellea Brophy DeCaro 4.00.
Longboard – Open 1. Travis Alexander 15.94, 2. Solten Poulsen 14.84, 3. Talia Sloan 8.00, 4. Lyla Sloan 7.57, 5. Jack Hill 5.77, 6. Bela Kuailani.
Para 1. Evan Strong 11.83, 2. Scott Metcalf 8.66.
Open Women’s – 1. Julianna Korpas 12.00, 2. Krislyn Simpson-Cain 9.90, 3. Kaya McCord 8.56, 4. Sochi Henderson 6.63, 5. Shia Boberman 5.73, 6. Ira Diane 5.53.
Open Men – 1. Levi Young 13.23, 2. Logan Bediamol 13.20, 3. Cody Young 12.00, 4. Ridge Rennie 10.60, 5. Kai Nelson 8.03, 6. Eric Roberson 5.74.